A Firebug's Look at the TATO Element Woodstove

I've had a new wood-stove to play with the last couple of months, made by TATO, called the Element. It is notable in having a hinged design, includes a door for venting and/or putting in larger pieces of wood, and can double as a windscreen for alcohol burners. This video gives a review, done mostly at the end of a two-day stroll on the AT in New Hampshire. Shows off the stove and puts it through its paces.

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[Steven Jarvis]

Griz: What GoLite pack is that you're carrying on this trip?

[ProfessorHammock]

Jam, 50L I think. About x2 the space I used for that overnight!

[OldePete]

Thanks for sharing Prof.I think the hinges might be more of a potential problem than a benefit and so if I decide on a "flat" wood stove, I'm leaning toward the Emberlit Mini. Have you analyzed the benefit of the flat stoves (easy to pack) vs. the "can" wood gas stoves (cleaner burn)? The flat has the packability, but if you're carrying a pot anyway and your stove nests into the pot or vice versa, the flat benefit goes away. What do you think?

[ProfessorHammock]

I have a can-style stove, a "Bush Buddy" that I've used a lot, and like a lot. With the stove in the pot you get some small items in the stove too. Still, you can get _more_ into the pot if the stove isn't there, like a cup, pot grabbers, alcohol bottle, small box of matches, some fire-starter. So I do think the system with a flat stove is more compact, at least with the BushBuddy.

[ProfessorHammock]

I have a can-style stove, a "Bush Buddy" that I've used a lot, and like a lot. With the stove in the pot you get some small items in the stove too. Still, you can get _more_ into the pot if the stove isn't there, like a cup, pot grabbers, alcohol bottle, small box of matches, some fire-starter. So I do think the system with a flat stove is more compact, at least with the BushBuddy.

[Craig Erskine]

Thanks for the great review grizz, I just ordered one.

You have any more tips to share since uploading the video? I will be using it with an imusa pot with an alcohol stove backup.

[GreenFireflyGirl]

I would have loved you to try a little alcohol stove with the snowpeak, with no floor and the snowpeak handles balancing in the cutout portion of the stove, as I am hoping that the proportions are such as to create a perfect burn. (eyeballing it, it just looks right) I'm trying to pick between this, the solostove and the emberlite, but so far the fold flat ones seem to be winning.

[Pål Robberstad]

If I´m not mistaken that is the snowpeak trek 900 not MSR Pot

[titan90000]

Have you recived the Ti version? If so, how is the durability of that version?

[biblesnbarbells]

Great job on the review. This looks like a vey functional stove. Anthony.

[D Collier]

Hey sir, how can I purchase a bridge hammock other than the jacks r better ones? I really like the ones you show on your channel.

[HelmerandRawlins]

Impressive channel, and I must admit I am thrilled to see the use of some wood burning kit here. I enjoy fires while out hiking and camping but know that many areas strictly forbid them. This stove seems like a nice way to see and smell a burn without leaving much of a trace. May I ask what personal techniques you use to combat spreading soot on the rest of your gear, how you protect the ground from spreading embers, and how you scatter/cover the site to leave no trace behind?

[ProfessorHammock]

If a woodstove is my only means of cooking, I'll always bring along a knife suitable for batoning wood, e.g., a Mora. Split larger pieces, there's always dry wood inside.